Time for me to concede. I have been slaughtered at the bookies tonight. I will be holding a full post mortem with myself at breakfast in a couple of hours.
I think it's important in the Bermondsey & Old Southwark result (now at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000553 ) not to overlook the controversial battle between Comrade Kingsley Abrams, the joint candidate of Trade Unionist and Sociality Coalition - Left Unity, and Comrade Steve Freeman standing for The Republican Socialist Party, but who was controversially also a member of the Lefty Unity Party.
I love it when left-wing parties stick "Unity" in their names, but it would certainly help if they didn't actually run two candidates against each other in the same constituency... if Comrade Freeman hadn't nabbed 20 votes, then Comrade Abrams might have mustered better than his total of 142 and posed a more serious threat to Simon Hughes and his fellow pro-auterity politicians.
Clacton Tory GAIN in next election. That's a shockingly low vote for the late UKIP party.
Don't get high on your own supply. UKIP have won millions of votes.
As have the Greens and as the BNP did last time. Thankfully we decided to keep by two to one in a referendu, First Past The Post to give seats to the winners and not the fringes.
Obviously the beneficiaries of the system think it's the best system there is. But, when the system turns, as it has tonight for Scottish unionist parties, it can turn very viciously.
1. Steve Freeman has announced that he is a parliamentary candidates in Bermondsey and Old Southwark for the May 7 general election. He is standing as a Republican Socialist. He is therefore opposing Kingsley Abrams, a candidate jointly backed by the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition and Left Unity. Politically this amounts to sabotage.
2. Comrade Abrams is a former local councillor and was the official Labour candidate in the 2001 general election. He lost to Simon Hughes, but got 30% of the vote. Comrade Abrams fell foul of the Labour Party machine after speaking out against austerity. He describes himself as old Labour and recently resigned from the party after 30 years of membership. Comrade Abrams then offered to stand under the banner of Tusc and LU – an offer that was eagerly accepted at both a local and national level. Southwark LU officially endorsed him on February 25.
3. Though comrade Abrams is not a member of LU, he is without doubt the right candidate to back. He is not only challenging Simon Hughes once again, but mainstream Labour hopeful Nick Coyle. His central slogan is ‘No to austerity’.
4. Comrade Freeman is a member of Left Unity. Till recently he was in charge of its constitutional commission and put himself forward for its national council in internal elections. His criticisms of old Labour and Tusc are well founded. The idea of a Labour Party mark II is illusory and doomed to fail. However, comrade Freeman’s ‘republican socialism’ amounts to little more than a leftwing version of English nationalism.
5. Even if he advocated a politically principled socialist programme comrade Freeman would be wrong to stand. The left in Britain is woefully weak and dividing of our forces in the general election can only but damage our cause. Political criticism is perfectly legitimate – indeed it is required. But when it comes to the May 7 general election our motto should be ‘Unity in action’.
6. We urge comrade Freeman to behave in a responsible manner and immediately step down as a candidate. If he refuses then it is clear that the national council is duty-bound to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him under clause 18(a) of the constitution.
So earnest, bless them. "The left in Britain is woefully weak and dividing of our forces in the general election can only but damage our cause" ... 162 votes would definitely have been better than 142 plus 20...
John Curtice and his exit poll looked nervous about his projections but that exit poll is not far out at all and what does this outcome say about Peter Kellner and YouGov,Lord Ashcroft and the rest,who have turned out to be offering snake-oil? Heads must surely roll.
If there were to be another election quite soon - and I don't think there will be - would the LDs be advised to not stand in all constituencies? Waste of even marginal amounts of resources to put up candidates in many areas.
Clacton Tory GAIN in next election. That's a shockingly low vote for the late UKIP party.
Don't get high on your own supply. UKIP have won millions of votes.
As have the Greens and as the BNP did last time. Thankfully we decided to keep by two to one in a referendu, First Past The Post to give seats to the winners and not the fringes.
Obviously the beneficiaries of the system think it's the best system there is. But, when the system turns, as it has tonight for Scottish unionist parties, it can turn very viciously.
100% agreed.
Though I don't think it's a fault in the system, Canada is another famous example - and the Canadian Tories returned to government after that. Tonight Scotland has spoken and it said SNP.
@ChrisMasonBBC: Labour think they have narrowly beaten Conservative minister Esther McVey in Wirral West, reports @ArifBBC ...there is a recount underway.
I'm glad Carswell won in Clacton in the face of ridiculous and bullying 'anti-UKIP' marches arranged in his constituency. Prats.
If the idiots who arranged those kind of things actually looked at what Carswell stands for they would realise he is a million miles from what they think he stands for.
If there were to be another election quite soon - and I don't think there will be - would the LDs be advised to not stand in all constituencies? Waste of even marginal amounts of resources to put up candidates in many areas.
I think they will go back to their stone age years of 1945-1964, they will stand in a handful of seats from now on.
If there were to be another election quite soon - and I don't think there will be - would the LDs be advised to not stand in all constituencies? Waste of even marginal amounts of resources to put up candidates in many areas.
I think they will go back to their stone age years of 1945-1964, they will stand in a handful of seats from now on.
2025 is the rebuilding election for them now I guess.
@ChrisMasonBBC: Labour think they have narrowly beaten Conservative minister Esther McVey in Wirral West, reports @ArifBBC ...there is a recount underway.
Comments
I love it when left-wing parties stick "Unity" in their names, but it would certainly help if they didn't actually run two candidates against each other in the same constituency... if Comrade Freeman hadn't nabbed 20 votes, then Comrade Abrams might have mustered better than his total of 142 and posed a more serious threat to Simon Hughes and his fellow pro-auterity politicians.
Tories GAIN Southampton Itchen. Wow.
@iainmacwhirter: Paco McSheepie gets dipped. What an idiot. #GE2015 A lesson for all cybertwats
Though I don't think it's a fault in the system, Canada is another famous example - and the Canadian Tories returned to government after that. Tonight Scotland has spoken and it said SNP.
Official at Twickenham count says there may be a recount but Vince Cable is behind his Conservative opponent
exxxxcelllent
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000533
LAB Hold Edinburgh South #GE2015
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